Welcome to my blog! I'm Abu, short for Abuela. I'm married to the Professor. We live on a small hobby "farm" in the beautiful Fingerlakes Region of Central New York.
As long as I can remember, I have loved making things. I spin, knit, felt, sew, weave, embroider; well, just about anything fibery.
In addition to being a fiberist, I am also a shepherdess. The Fleeceful Kingdom is home to a small flock of Shetland sheep.
I'll be sharing my creative adventures, the joys of raising Shetlands, and about trying to live simply and sustainably.

Saori

09/15/2011

This is a week of many anniversaries: my surgery two years ago and starting on the road to recovery, leaving my job one year ago and leaping into the unknown, and my 30th wedding anniversary!

I have been using the time since the kids' camp to reflect on this past year; the joys and bumps in the road, the hurdles, the fears, the laughter, the tears. Last week, I also received an email from Japan that my application to be an authorized Saori studio has been approved!

Anniversary Cloth

I'm not sure where that leaves The Fleeceful Kingdom. I will still keep the name for my "hobby" farm; but tomorrow I file the papers, and rejoice in announcing the birth of Serendipity Saori Studio!

I love the Oxford English Dictionary definition:

ser·en·dip·i·ty--noun

• the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

It can also mean good fortune; luck. Seems like a good name for my new venture, and also a good description of Saori weaving!

Pebble Beach

Of course, my weaving is helping me sort all this out, so many things are floating through my mind. I have to keep a notepad by the loom to jot down ideas as they come, otherwise I will forget. I love being open to these thoughts as they bubble and come to the surface. I could never come up with any of them by myself. But the weaving allows the space I need.

Fog

And, my one year blog anniversary is next week. My goodness! September is filled with so many special dates! Thanks for reading along and sharing in the journey.

09/02/2011

The loom arrived last week on the last day of camp (can you believe it?)! Moms, dads, grandmas and siblings had arrived for our "art show." The kids were superhyped to show their families their projects and introduce them to George. Everyone was enjoying the cookies and punch Tia Sari had made (there wasn't a crumb left!).

Suddenly, I looked up and saw a yellow Penske truck at the bottom of my driveway. What could that be? Then the driver unloaded a box onto a handtruck and pushed it all the way up the hill. I met him at the walk, and he apologized for being three hours late; his truck had broken down. But like a true Pony Express carrier, the delivery must go through! It took everything in me to stay focused and not rush to tear open the box.

Here she is. I'm calling her Kernel Sanders, after my online mentor at SAORI Santa Cruz. The dictionary defines kernel as: "5. the central or most important part of anything; essence; gist; core." And my SAORI loom is just that!

So in my downtime this week, I have been weaving my little heart out! Oh, it feels so right. And SAORI makes it so comfortable. No back pain like on my big loom. I can sit for hours and loose all track of time. When the Professor leaves for work, I put on Joni Mitchell and sing at the top of my lungs, rocking and weaving, and just enjoying the feel of the threads, the colors, the textures. Oh my!

My first scarf was woven with recycled sari silk. A sari silk scarf for Tia Sari!

The next scarf was woven during the hurricane; hence the moodiness and the colors reflecting the changes in sky and light.

But the last scarf on the pre-warp (did I mention that the SAORI loom comes already pre-warped? It took me one hour to set up and start weaving [!!!]), I really lost myself. I was having such a good time, and was not paying attention to how much warp remained. I have wanted to try a mobius scarf for quite some time. And my friend Jill (may I call you my friend?) at SAORI Santa Cruz posted a great tutorial on how to do so. But like I said, I was neither here nor there, but somewhere in between, when suddenly I realized I had run out of warp!

To do a mobius, you untie the cloth from the front beam (another incredible SAORI feature), fold the scarf putting a twist in, then use the warp ends as weft. I did not have any room to weave in the ends! But I was determined to make this work, and somehow managed to squeeze them in with a quarter inch to spare!

But I didn't consider that both the warp and the weft would be black cotton! So to give some interest, I tucked in treasures; bits of yarn and scraps that I had also included in the scarf.

When I went to remove the scarf from the loom, I had tensioned the scarf around the front beam, so I couldn't remove the scarf! I remembered reading about this, and went back to Jill's post:

"REMEMBER NOT TO WRAP THE SCARF AROUND THE BREAST BEAM BEFORE YOU TENSION! Otherwise you will have woven around the the beam and cannot get it off! Just fold the woven part in half and tuck in and turn the cloth beam till it catches."

I couldn't think. There was a lump in my throat, and a sinking feeling in my chest. I just had to walk away. It was late, and I decided to sleep on it.

In the morning, I cut (gulp) it off the front beam, ran to the sewing machine, and sewed it up. Then I used a needle to try to loosen the weft threads because I had had to cram them in such a little shed. I started to relax. I kept saying to myself, "It's going to be okay."

So here is what I'm calling my Mobi(b)us(t) scarf:

Not as bad of a bust as I thought it would be, but I think it will be a while before I attempt another mobius scarf!

And some good news: I sent my application to be an Authorized SAORI studio to Japan yesterday, complete with studio, portfolio, and teaching photos. Keep your fingers crossed that I will receive a positive response quickly!

08/03/2011

Life is indeed happening fast. After completing Summer Art Camp, we took a family trip to the Cape to celebrate my father-in-law's 90th birthday. This was only the second time in ten years we have gone away as a family (the last time was for Poppa's 85th); one of us usually stays behind for the animals. It was a huge leap of faith to trust someone with our beloved four-legged creatures. Everyone did fine, despite the record temperatures. We enjoyed a gorgeous weekend, seeing family, and the beach!

Just before we left, Sarah announced she made a decision to return to the States after graduation. Yipee! So between art camp, travel, house guests, the birthday party, and physical therapy, we made last minute changes and left for Costa Rica two days after returning from the Cape!

We were able to sell most of her stuff, and what we didn't sell, we packed and shipped. Thank goodness for my mom! She was coming for the graduation anyway, but ended up packing boxes and keeping Sari on task. You forget how much you accumulate after living in a place for 4-1/2 years! We had ten days to accomplish this amazing feat. Sari sold all the pots, pans, and dishes, but when the bed sold…well, it was time to go to a hotel!

The graduation ceremony was beautiful, even though my mom and I didn't speak Spanish, we were able to follow along. I'm so proud of Sari; she graduated with honors, and received a certificate for achieving a 100 on her thesis (written in another language)!!! We so enjoyed meeting Sari's friends and their families, and I'm so grateful to her adopted Costa Rica moms who looked after her, especially when she damaged her knee!

We were delayed a day on our way home (missed a flight), and now we are contending with a time change and total exhaustion.

I was able to finish this summer tank top during PT appts. and flight times. (Pattern here). I'm happy with the way it came out. I can't think the last time I knit something for myself. It's really comfy and cool, but in the Fall, I can see wearing it over a turtleneck.

On Monday, we celebrated my birthday a day early (because the Professor teaches late on Tuesdays). Em and Sari made me a gluten-free birthday cake with an orange glaze. Delicious! I can't think the last time I had cake!

For my birthday, Em made me this awesome felted bucket bag to hold my yarn, needles, and current project. I just love it, and Frida picked the colors! I think we need to sell this in the shop!

Sari and the Professor gave me a book I have had on my wish list forever. I hope to incorporate some of the ideas and projects with my teaching.

And how did my little sheepies fare in my absence? Well, they didn't want to have anything to do with me last night! I went to bring them in, and walked through the pasture with their grain dish (just a little bit to encourage them), down to the run-in shed, and my sheepies were following. But George was the only one to step inside; everyone else bolted! So I came out and circled, coming up behind them to herd them down to the run-in shed again, and they bolted a second time! I tried a third time. I threatened to get a llama who will spit in their face! I threatened to call their Ohio mama and tell her they are bad sheepies and misbehaving! The Professor came in the pasture to assist. By now, it was dark, and I was tired and all worn out. The Professor stayed out, coaxing, circling, pleading. Eventually even he gave up, and my sheepies spent the night in the open air (they could still go in the shed if they wanted to). First thing this morning I asked the Professor, "Do I still have six sheep?" "Yes!" What a relief!

In the daylight, I noticed how much their faces have changed again. Timothy is wearing black stockings and his face has darkened. And so has Georgie's!

I received an email from Saori Japan just before I left. When I complete my next Advanced Basic Classes in Worcester, scheduled for mid-August, I can send in my application to be an authorized Saori studio and equipment dealer!

Woolly Week Summer Camp for kids starts in two weeks! I am planning lots of fun projects and activities, and Sari will be baking lots of delicious snacks for the kids.

07/13/2011

Life has taken unexpected twists and turns. I was very disappointed that my summer art camp at the Schweinfurth was cancelled this week. I am trying to be positive: family is coming to visit, we are all trekking to Poppa's 90th birthday party, it lessens the load as I take Sarah to therapy three times a week, etc.

I need a gift for my step mother-in-law when we go to the birthday party. I threw on a warp last week I call, "The New York Times" ("what's black and white and red all over?").

I think it will make a nice guy scarf, but it's not for her. It's more a manly man scarf. It's short, due to the felting, and really fluffy. Enough to fold over your chest. Yes, a chest-warmer-type scarf to tuck in an overcoat.

Now we are on countdown to leaving; the pressure is on. I have only hours. I threw on another warp yesterday, sat at the loom. Nope. This is not right either!

She likes green; wears green. But not bright green. More like olive, or sage, or a dusty, darker green. So my backup plan is to give her the cotton chenille scarf that did not sell at the show.

I'm so cranky! I am realizing it's because I don't have time to weave. I'm out of sorts. I'm not working through anything. I miss that quiet space I go to to heal, renew, restore and refresh.

So this is my lesson: When you think you don't have time to weave, that is when you need it the most!

07/04/2011

I can't believe it's time for camp. All my fiber equipment is in the front hall, waiting to be loaded first thing tomorrow morning. Then I'm off!

I had some time between last-minute running around getting supplies (I have five more students more than they told me to plan for!!!), sat at the sewing machine, and whipped up this t-shirt:

I had wanted to make some of these to sell at Art in the Park last weekend, but I didn't get around to it. Maybe next time because it was so fun and used up leftover woven scraps (I never throw anything away)! I've never done any quilting, but this reverse applique was quick and easy. I made a couple of flubs (Opps. Saori has no mistakes), and it would help to have a pair of really sharp pointy scissors, so I will know for next time.

In the meantime, my project bag is overflowing with things-to-do-while-I-wait-for-Sissy-at-PT. I'm not very good at sitting-and-waiting. My project bag helps take the edge off.

I have no new pics of my sheepies! Not that they are camera shy now that their fleeces are growing in so nice, but my camera is acting a little off. But Georgie sends his hellos and wishes he could go with me to camp tomorrow. I had to tell him there is no room in the back of the car.

06/22/2011

The loom sits idle. Too much is happening: a trip to PA for graduation, father's day, two surgeries for family in the same week, preparations for summer art camps, the art festival on Saturday, etc.

So I work on the "invisible." I close my eyes at night to a river of warp threads floating through my dreams. Purples and blues and turquoise, with a pinch or orange, maybe some pink. It will have to wait. It must wait.

I did manage to get this on and off the loom last week; a recycled felted sweater rug.

I scored these sweaters on sale last summer at a local thrift store.

I came home and felted them in the washing machine/dryer, but they sat in a storage bin waiting to be discovered.

I cut the sleeves in strips, and felted them again. They came out of the dryer cord-like.

I rolled the strips in balls, and free-wove in Saori style.

I wasn't sure what it was going to be: a rug? a messenger bag? pillows? tablerunner?

After taking it off the loom, it told me it did not want to be cut up! So for now, it is squishy and soft under my feet, so a rug it will be (until it tells me otherwise)!

In the coming weeks, I will be working a lot on the invisible because I will not have the luxury of time. I need to accept that. It is hard to gear down after pushing to get stuff made. And there is also fear. What if I don't get back to it?

It has been such a great time; a time of discovery, a time of healing, a time of reaching deep down inside and pulling out what is in there.

06/15/2011

This post is dedicated to Em, who came into our lives 25 years ago today. You have enriched our lives beyond measure, and it's been so wonderful to watch you grow, stretch, and discover your own special and unique gifts and talents. I will not embarass you here by lavishing on about you because you are quiet and private person. But you know in your heart you amaze me, and I am so proud of you!

In honor of this special birthday, I wove the fabric for a knitting bag I've been wanting to make for a while. Something big enough to hold a project with couple of balls, needles, etc. Something easy to get into, but not so big that you can't find anything.

It's made from recycled men's shirts, which I ripped into rags, joined together, then used as the weft on my loom.

Random shirt buttons popped through in the weaving.

I saved the surprise for last. The bag is lined with an extra large men's shirt. I kept the button band and the inside pocket!

06/13/2011

Before I left for Saori Worcester, I finished a tee for Frida, who is in desperate need of summer clothes. I had to draw on an inner reserve of courage to take the scissors and cut! I measured her, cut a paper pattern out of newspaper, and prayed a lot! Thankfully, it fit!

In the second heat wave of the season, I made my way to Saori Worcester, praying my car would not overheat in the Berkshires. The drive was uneventful, and I actually arrived a little early. Mihoko suggested we get started right away.

I had brought all my weaving since my last class, and spent the next hour in a one-on-one show and tell. Mihoko provided her gentle feedback, suggesting different techniques, sewing and cutting tips, etc. She left all my samples out for the other students to look at when they arrived for the 6:30 class.

Throughout the rest of the week, the positive feedback from other students was very rewarding and encouraging, and will buoy me along until I return to the Worcester studio in early August.

As much fun and encouraging as the studio time was, the highlight of my trip was a visit to an inner city elementary school that has a partnership program with Saori Worcester. Mihoko's husband, Nat, asked me if I wanted to go and help teach a Saori class of 5th graders. I jumped at the chance, and 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, we were buzzed in through the locked and barred doors of the xxx School of Science & Technology.

It was explained to me the school had found some table looms in storage; then put out the word to other schools in the district to search their attics. The result produced 20 table looms in various degrees of unkeptness. Mihoko told me they spent a lot of time scrubbing and cleaning the looms to return them to working order. The art teacher was then trained in Saori techniques, and the program put in place.

The next 45 minutes were the fastest minutes of the day! The students filed in the classroom, and grabbed their table looms (two students per loom). Boxes of various yarns of different textures and colors were produced, and the students got down to work. I love the idea that the students were working in teams on their looms. The lesson for the day was two-color interlock. I went up to a bunch of boys and asked if they knew how to do the technique. They said no, so I demonstrated and asked if they wanted to give it a try. They were off, so I moved on to my next group. I praised their use of color and texture, the bits of treasure they had woven in. The girls giggled and laughed and at me, as 5th grade girls will do. But it didn't matter. I was having such a good time. We had to practically shout to hear one another, the sound level was so high!

Then one boy came up to me and asked if I would show him how to add feathers in his weaving. Sure! So we went over to his loom, he produced a handful of feathers, and I showed him how to tuck them in. Once I was assured he was okay, I left him to his own, and continued moving around, offering help where needed.

As the class came to an close, these "tough" inner city kids didn't want to put their looms away! They didn't want it to end! The teacher had to ask several times for the kids to clean up and put things away. There was another flurry of activity as the room was set in motion. But then, there was a tug on my arm. "Miss! Please come here!" It was the boy with the feathers. Before I left, he wanted to show me his weaving. I went across the room, where he turned around with his loom and just about shoved it in my face! He was beaming; grinning from ear to ear, so proud of his weaving and his feathers! I will never forget his face, his smile, and the greatest gift he gave me that day.

Inspired by the school kids, this was the weaving I did in the studio class.

When I returned home, the fabric wanted to be made into a vest; my first Saori wearable!

While in Worcester, Mihoko taught me how to do a two-color interlock in a warp. When I returned home, I gave it a try.

I think I will use this fun fabric for some evening bags / cosmetic cases.

I'm almost finished with Em's b'day bag, and hope to post pics soon. Just working out some technical details.

I did some cold process dyeing on my return from Worcester, before the poppies and bachelor buttons disappear.

Tia Sari returned from CR due to a knee injury, so Em and the girls came by for a visit. Did I mention Sundays are Georgie's favorite day? Oh, how I love my Little Shepherdess!

Wherever you go today, whatever you do; may you do it with all your heart.

Her goal is "To live for one year, in clothes made from fibers that are solely sourced within a geographical region no larger than 150 miles from my front door; this includes the natural dye colors as well!"

This was part of my motivation to have a flax and dye garden. A challenge to myself. Could I grow my own clothes??? I have the Shetlands for my nice warm woolies, but what about the one day of summer? Cotton is out. Can I grow flax and hemp in Central New York?

In my research about flax, it is a 1-1/2 to 2 year project, from seed to actual garment!!! Can you imagine our fore sisters growing their own clothes? Which is probably why they only had one dress. And why clothes were handed down and stitched and patched and stitched some more. Which brings me back to the thought about telling time through cloth.

I'm embarassed when I open my closet! (But now I see it as potential). I haven't done a F*R*U*gal project for a while, so it was time to dust some of those clothes off and make something of them.

In case you missed my previous posts, F*R*U*gal means I'm a Free, Reuse, and Upcycle kind of gal. Here is what I'm working on today:

Em, if you're reading this, stop here!

M's birthday is coming up, and I thought I would make her a market bag type thingy. My inspiration came from a bag a woman brought to Saori Worcester last month.

The "What if it did matter?" will continue to be a big question for me. It brings me back to all the research I did in school on fair trade, child labor, the environmental damage caused by the textile industry, women's cooperatives, my idea of bringing back the local mills (they were all up and down the outlet at the turn of the century), putting local people back to work, knitting from wind power, connecting with other local fiber producers, etc., etc. Oh, I need to go and weave to calm myself. This is too big a question for my little brain!

06/01/2011

I wasn't ready to write about this last week because I wasn't sure how things would turn out.

Last Wednesday night, we had a terrible thunderstorm in the middle of the night, and Peach, one of our rescue horses, got loose.

When we woke on Thursday morning, the Professor knew something was wrong right away. We have a walk-out basement on the side of the house that faces the barn. When the Professor went downstairs, he could make out a figure out the door. When he turned the light on, there was Peach, under the deck waiting for him! But he couldn't walk. He couldn't put any weight on his front leg. I woke up hearing the Professor running around downstairs. I sat up in bed, and he thrust the phone and a piece of paper with the vet's number on it. "I think Peachie broke his leg. Call the vet. Then call Em."

We have the greatest vet in the whole world. He's in his 70s, and I'm not sure what we will do when he decides to retire. But he is fit as a fiddle, and blessed with the all the knowledge and wisdom of his age.

He was at the house within the hour, took one look at Peach, and said he had nerve damage to his shoulder (a kick from another horse???). Everytime Peach took a step, his hoof turned under, he would drag it, and then stumble. At first the vet said he would treat him as if everything would be okay, but because of his age, the damage to his other front leg from arthritis, etc., we could only be hopeful.

It was painful to watch Peach try to walk. He would trip, catch himself, stumble. I would gasp. But Peach is so smart. He knew how to compensate, and he made adjustments so he could get around. After watching him, the vet said that he was very encouraged.

He gave him a couple shots of cortisone and we mixed some bute with his grain. And most important, the vet asked if Peach was getting picked on. Yes! Harley drives him all the time. So the Professor made a special pasture for him so he could convalesce in peace; basically dividing the barn so Peach could have the double stall and go out the front; and Harley and Gillie pony could go out the back.

However, horses are herd animals. If they can't see each other, they cry. Harley had Gillie to pal around with, but Peach needed a pasture pal.

It's been a week, and Peach has made a remarkable recovery! Thank you, Lord!

I found out at the end of last week, that Em and I have been accepted into a local art and craft fair at the end of June! So she is busy knitting, and I am power weaving, trying to make enough "stuff" for our booth.

The Professor reminded me from his art fair days that it's a good idea to have some lower-priced items in addition to the more expensive scarves, etc. So I am making some little treasure purses. I hope the kids like them.

I've been working on some space-warped felted scarves. Before felting...

After felting...

Before felting...

After felting...

Ohhhh. They came out so soft and thick and warm. Yummy! I hope somebody likes them! But I'm saying to myself, it will just be a lot of fun to be out, meet some people, and hand out some business cards and camp flyers. I hope we get a nice sunny day for the fair!

Welcome to my blog! I'm Abu, short for Abuela. I'm married to the Professor. We live on a small "farm" in the beautiful Fingerlakes Region of Central New York. I'll be posting on my journey to create a more simple life way.